Rockies Doing Homework On Delmon Young

"La Velle E. Neal III suggested they wanted Kevin Slowey, Denard Span, and another prospect for Garrett Atkins."

Wh...what?

Span/Slowey for Atkins is right around where I had priced it except I was more in the Young/Slowey or Young/Baker area with the addition of a prospect on the Twins side and the addition of Clint Barmes on the Rockies side.

Bottom line is Rox need pitching more then an OF so if they are going to deal Atkins they probably want pitching in return not another OF.

Rockies asking price should be high, they aren't desperate and they have plenty of depth elsewhere to still deal.

Atkins just isn't that expensive (especially considering what the Twins are might pay Casey Blake) and he could also slide to LF allowing Stewart to play 3B.

If I was the Rockies, I would try to deal Willy Taveras first and see where you stood after that. Until the, no cause for desperation

Ya. That's about the most ridiculous trade scenario I've heard in recent years.

I wouldn't give up Span OR Slowey straight up for Atkins at this point, let alone both +.

Definitely ridiculous.

I think, if the Rockies would be open to it, a good trade for both sides would be something like:

Delmon/Swarzak
for
Street/Stewart/Baker

The Twins could use Stewart at 3b and Baker at 2b (Casilla to SS) and Street in the pen, and the Rockies would have their lineup set, plus probably a good young starter by midseason in Swarzak.

Eesh... what a joke.

Didn't the Rockies learn from getting burned by asking too much for Helton?

How's that contract looking now Colorado?

Stewart is better than Delmon Young already at the plate, isn't a scumbag, and plays a more valuable position. Why would the Rox do that?

Span & Slowey for Atkins? Haha. I want nothing to do with Atkins, and certainly not that deal. Maybe Span & Slowey for Tulowitzki.

If we're trading for anything it should be a shortstop. Not wild about giving up on Delmon, especially considering even though he looked brutal last year, he's better than Cuddyer. I think if he is traded, it better be for a shortstop we're going to have for several years. Don't screw this up, Billy.

Crede would fal apart playing on turf for a full season. Guillen rested Crede, when he was actually "healthy", when the Sox played at the dome.

Didn't the Rockies learn from getting burned by asking too much for Helton?

How's that contract looking now Colorado?

Posted by: MorneauVP | December 05, 2008 at 10:05 AM

Atkins is signed at a reasonable price, so I have no clue how a Todd Helton comparison is used here. Helton has an awful contract, Atkins does not which is why they can hold onto him and then take in the 2 draft picks when he walks in 2 years.

The reality is the Rockies have no need to move anyone unless its for pitching and they have multiple other pieces that might be better trade chips to deal first.

You don't open negotiations for something you don't need (another OF) by starting at a fair price; you start by asking for way more and hope to end up somewhere slightly ahead of fair at the end.

Lets also remember that Atkins will be a Type A free agent in 2 years and thus yield any team who has him 2 Draft Picks, so his asking price is reflective of this.

Personally if I was the Rockies I would be trying to deal Brad Hawpe to the Cubs instead of Atkins to the Twins.

Cubs have stated their window is 2 years to win and Hawpe fits the bill perfectly for a Lefty Bat that plays RF.

Seth Smith could then play RF for the Rockies filling that hole and Carlos Gonzalez could play CF with Garret Atkins in LF and Ian Stewart at 3B.

In return for Hawpe, the Rox could probably get great value given the win now mode of the Cubs.

Sounds like La Velle E. Neal III could post messages on here as a cubs fan.

What does this mean about the report about the Rockies not doing anythin with Atkins because he is their back up plan for Helton?

From the looks of Christensen's latest article it looks like Delmon is working hard this offeseason getting into better physical condition "shedding pounds and adding muscle at the Peak Performance Project in Santa Barbara." I think Cuddy should be moved if an outfielder going to leave, but he's not little to no value.

Giving Delmon Young for Garrett Atkins is a huge plus for the Rockies as well as the Twins. But, Garrett Atkins is not worth a starter plus an outfielder who both have really high potential. The guy can't hit away from Coors Field and is a below average fielder. The Twins have several top prospects in the system who could go with Young who are close to making it to the majors such as 3B Luke Hughes, RHP Kevin Mulvey, and CF Ben Revere. Young plus one of these players for Atkins is the right deal. I'm sorry but you don't give up one of your top pitchers plus a top outfielder for just one infielder who has some flaws.

Atkins for Young, straight up.

Atkins fills the Twins void at third, and a regular spot in the outfield opens up for Span.

The Rockies go with an outfield of Young/Spilborghs/Gonzalez and buys some more time for Fowler in the minors to refine his game.

Stewart gets plugged in at third.

I think this is a win/win for both teams.

I believe they need to hold onto all their outfielders this year. I am not totally sold on Span if he can keep the numbers up. Young and Gomez will only be 23 at the start of the season and both still have upside. Cuddyer has some flexibility on positions he can play OF, 3B, and 1B. Also, cuddyer and young can fill in at DH when facing a lefty.

Nowhere does it say he made the commuter everyday, which leads me to believe he moved closer so he could focus on working out. "Asked how much better shape he's in now than September, he said, "way better," adding, "I've got things to fix with baseball and with my body."

Jeez that trade proposal sounds a lot like one a homer fan would make up.

Garrett Atkins is a fine player, but the guy just isn't that good. He's not a good defensive 3B, he's just adequate, and will likely need to move to the OF in a couple years. His numbers are really helped by playing in Coors, so when it comes down to it Atkins is really not a very impressive player.

Atkins might not even be worth either of those guys by themselves.

Span posted a .387 OBP in near 400 plate appearences while playing for a contending team. He's only 24 and still has nearly all of his team controlled years left. Right now Span is a capable CF who is a plus on the corners that can get on base, and shows flashes of good speed and power. His ceiling isn't terribly high but he may already be a good player.

Slowey meanwhile, was great for them last season. He's still quite young and his peripherals were great last season, his command seems to be very good. Slowey may very well already be a solid 3, and he's definitely a good 4/5 option.

I'm sorry but that prosposal is simply laughable.

I don't expect the Rockies to move Atkins unless they can land a good young OF. Otherwise they'll probably play Stewart at third, Helton at first, Atkins in left and C-Gon and Spilborghs in center.

I like the Wigginton tithe Twins idea, and Houston really needs some youth.

Could a Wigginton for one of Perkins, Blackburn, Mulvey or Swarzak work? Maybe with Houston throwing in a prospect?

Could a Wigginton for one of Perkins, Blackburn, Mulvey or Swarzak work? Maybe with Houston throwing in a prospect?
Posted by: scribbletone

You would have to think with a farm system like Hustons that throwing in a prospect along with any trade really wouldn't be a big deal.

Its sort of like asking for an extra magic bean after you've given the man your cow.

The Rockies can and should not acquire another outfielder. All they need, really, is pitching -- meaning, they need an ace. Jeff Francis, Ubaldo Jimenez, and Aaron Cook are the only legitimate starters that club has. There is no ace. It also doesn't help that Franklin Morales has yet to prove his worth and show the consistency and maturity needed to excel in the bigs. And while Slowey is very talented, he is young and I'm not confident he can lead a rotation so early in his career.

This rumor is all kinds of atrocious. Delmon Young's value is dropping rapidly. Come on, Gardenhire and others within the Twins organization would rather start Denard Span -- a flash in the pan with no MiLB track record -- over Delmon Young? What a dramatic drop-off. There is no chance that he is worth something like Garrett Atkins and ______. Besides, Atkins doesn't project as a third basemen in the next three years, so the Twins would have to find yet another option after he's shoved into the already crowded outfield.

There are many words with which I can characterize this one, but I'll just leave it at "Blech." This simply cannot be true.

ProgMatinee:

While I agree with what you said about Helton (good for the lineup if he hits like he did in '07), Hawpe's cannon arm does not justify the horrible routes he takes to flyballs and his overall lack of ability to properly judge them. And, while the Rockies defense WAS solid overall in 2007, errors are not a good way to measure how good a player is defensively. That sums up Atkins well, as other third basemen may make more errors, but they also cover a lot more ground than Atkins, who is extremely range-deficient.

Young for Ian Stewart seems really fair.

1st of all Garrett is pretty valuble to any team not just the Rockies. 1st base is his natural postion, but he was moved to 3rd because of Helton, he has played 2nd base also, so he can play there if needed and he also knows the outfield. The Rockies needs are Pitchers not OF there is a log jam at all 3 postions. Stewart is not going to go any where or if he does the price will be higher than want the twins can afford, because of his high upside. If the twins want to trade a player that has never lived up to his potential(young) take Barmes or Baker and Willy T from the Rockies.